Annie Power made amends for her fall at the final flight in last year's OLBG Mares' Hurdle when running away with the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham this afternoon, giving owner Susannah Ricci, trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Ruby Walsh a 3.38/1 double on the card.

The 5/2 favourite made most of the running and saw off her rivals one by one with a commanding performance, powering up the hill to record a four and a half length victory from 10/1 shot My Tent Or Yours.

Annie Power clocked a time of 3 minutes 45.10 seconds which is a course record for the two mile trip. The previous record stood at 3 minutes 45.25 which was recorded by Jezki in the Stan James Champion Hurdle in 2014. She becomes the fourth mare ever to win the Stan James Champion Hurdle and the first since Flakey Dove, ridden by Mark Dwyer, in 1994.

Rich Ricci, husband of the winning owner, was overcome by emotion after the race and fought back the tears as he tried to convey just how much this victory meant to him. The eight-year-old was giving the Riccis their 10th success at The Festival.

"It's just spectacular," said Ricci. "No horse deserves to win here - but she does really! It's brilliant! Sport offers such a chance for redemption and it's fantastic to see. I'm happy for the horse and just happy for everyone."

Mullins was also delighted after the race as it not only gave him his 43rd Festival winner, but he also emulated his father Paddy in training a mare to win the Stan James Champion Hurdle. Dawn Run won the race back in 1984 for Mullins senior.

"I've just seen Rich in tears and that's good - that's what it's all about," said Mullins. "It's great he's able to enjoy it like that with all the horses he has. I thought she was fantastic. It's a super performance from the mare to come back like that with only one run under her belt. She bossed the race but that was Ruby's plan. He told me a fortnight ago what he was going to do and it's worked out like that.

"We weren't sure if there was pace coming from anywhere else but after the second hurdle I was happy. I was just worried would she run up to expectations but she has certainly exceeded my expectations. It's good that she's landed one for herself and for Rich as well. It was great to get on the board with Douvan but this is something special. I thought she might be able to win but I didn't think she'd be able to do it like that. It was a huge performance."

Barry Geraghty was delighted with My Tent Of Yours' second, especially since the horse had not been seen on a racecourse for 703 days.

The Nicky Henderson-trained nine-year-old was able to keep tabs on the eventual winner Annie Power throughout the race, but as they came into the straight Annie Power was able to pull clear and win by four and a half lengths. My Tent Of Yours did well to fight off another Willie Mullins-trained runner, Nichols Canyon, by a head.

Geraghty said: "No, no it had not been ideal (not having a run beforehand), but Nicky (Henderson) had him in good shape.

"The mare was very good and was a very strong winner and My Tent Or Yours ran a great race on his comeback so we are very pleased."

The jockey continued: "Yes I was surprised he ran so well and it was great to see it so I'm delighted with him."

In the early days of his career, the son of Desert Prince had been known to race keenly, but Geraghty was impressed with how well he relaxed: "He settled nicely and did everything so well no excuses. The winner was just very, very good and it was really a case of what she found, but I was just very pleased."

Nicky Henderson, trainer of My Tent Or Yours and four others in the race, commented: "It has been well documented that it was a fair old while since My Tent Or Yours had seen a racecourse.

"He has not lost the will-power and his jumping is still so slick - he loved it. He settled really well with all the gadgets on him.

"It was a pity he could not have had a comeback earlier in the year but he has still run a fantastic race.

"Top Notch (fifth) ran a great race while Hargam was off the bridle a long way out but Sign Of A Victory (eighth) ran a good race, while Peace And Co was disappointing."

The Champion Hurdle was inaugurated in 1927, with a value to the winner of £365. The race is worth £400,000 now, with the winning horse gaining £227,800. The race was abandoned in 1931 due to persistent frost, in 1943 and 1944 because of the Second World War, and in 2001 because of foot and mouth disease.

There have only been three sponsors of this great race. Waterford Crystal backed the championship contest from 1978 to 1990, while the Smurfit Group sponsored the top hurdle from 1991 to 2010. Stan James took over the sponsorship in 2011 and also support a series of races on the Road to Cheltenham.

Jezki recorded the fastest time for the Stan James Champion Hurdle in 2014, winning in 3 minutes 45.25 seconds to
eclipse the previous best of 3 minutes 48.1 seconds set by Istabraq in 2000.